Rakitic then went close again, this time with his head, but nemesis Lopez once again saved.

Espanyol were two down but not out but, when Pablo Piatti hit the woodwork and then missed a sitter, they looked doomed.

And they were out of the game on 67 minutes when Messi completed his milestone after Luis Suarez and Alba had linked up.

Dembele – whose fee has the potential to rise to £135.5m – was sent on for a jolly on 68 minutes and he got straight in on the act by setting up Suarez for a goal just three minutes after Gerard Pique had headed home a Rakitic corner.